500 colon coin

This event took place on December 1, 1948, when José Figueres Ferrer, leader of the Founding Junta of the Second Republic, made the historic decision to abolish the army as a permanent institution. The measure was officially enacted through the 1949 Political Constitution, which declares Costa Rica an army-free nation, allowing only police forces to maintain internal order.

The abolition of the army was aimed at preventing future coups d’état, promoting democratic stability, and redirecting economic resources toward priority areas such as education, healthcare, and social welfare.

Pillars of the commemoration: The image on the coin symbolizes Costa Rica’s decision to live in peace. 

Image: The figure that is breaking a wall represents the action by José Figueres Ferrer in 1948, when he knocked down a wall of Cuartel Bellavista to symbolize the end of the army.  The broken wall means the rejection of militarism and violence, and the overall design reflects the country’s commitment to democracy, education, and social development—values that replaced weapons as the foundation of national security.